A good finish to the first period and a fighting second-half display by Wexford gained the Slaneysiders a deserved, if hard-won, victory over Tipperary at cold and windy New Ross.

The eventual winners looked to be in deep trouble with only 10 minutes of the first half remaining as they trailed Tipperary by a point despite having the assistance of a gale-force wind.

But five unanswered points by John Hegarty (2), Leigh O'Brien, Martin Byrne and Mattie Forde gave them an interval lead of 0-9 to 1-2. The goal, which was boxed by Fergus O'Callaghan, was of the gift variety by Wexford goalkeeper Ollie Murphy, who failed to hold Peter Lambert's free kick.

Although they doubled their lead with a Mattie Forde point in the ninth minute of the second half, Wexford seemed to be in more trouble when Dermot Gleeson toe-poked to the net 15 minutes into the second-half and when Lambert reduced the arrears to a minimum, it looked all over for the Slaneysiders.

Wexford, however, responded positively five minutes later when the outstanding John Hegarty soloed 40 yards before cleverly beating the reliable Billy Ryan in the Tipperary goal.

Tipperary put in a very strong finish and three points from frees by Peter Lambert had Wexford under pressure in the closing stages but they managed to weather the storm.

WEXFORD: O Murphy; C Morris, M Kavanagh, P Kehoe; D Breen, L O'Brien (0-2), B Kavanagh; J Whelan, T Howlin; M Byrne (0-1), P Forde, J Hegarty (1-2); J Lawlor, M Mahon (0-2), M Forde (0-4). Subs: N Morris for Whelan, J Foley for Mahon, P Wallace for Kavanagh.

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; M O'Brien, N Kelly, L Cronin; B Hahessey, D Peters, D O'Brien; F O'Callaghan (1-0), E Hanrahan; S Maher, M Sheehan, D Gleeson (1-0); P Lambert (0-5), J Carroll, D O'Brien (0-1). Subs: T Connors for Sheehan, N Fitzgerald for Gleeson, J McCarthy for Connors.

Referee: J Geanry (Cork)